
69
If exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction – fishtailing
– at the rear axle.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces. Engaging a gear may not provide
adequate resistance to rolling.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake
lightly from time to time when coasting
to a standstill – at a traffic light, for
example – provided that it is safe to do
so.<
Manual transmission
When shifting gears in the
fifth/sixth gear plane, be sure to
press the gearshift lever to the right in
order to prevent inadvertent selection
of a gear in the third/fourth gear plane.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or 'riding' the clutch.
Use the parking brake instead. Riding
the clutch leads to severe and prema-
ture clutch wear.<
ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Press the gearshift lever to the left
to overcome the slight resistance.
When you select reverse the backup
lamps will light up automatically when
the ignition key is in position 2.
Parking brake
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70
Sequential M gearbox with Drivelogic*The conceptThe sequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic is an automated manual
gearbox with which clutching and shift-
ing is assumed by an electro-hydraulic
system.
The SMG Drivelogic is operated via two
shift paddles on the steering wheel and
the selector lever in the center console.
It offers the following functions:
>Sequential and automated shifting
mode
>Ability to choose between different
driving programs – Drivelogic
>Gradient assistance, refer to page 73
>Upshift display and shift lights, refer
to page 74
>RPM matching on downshifts
>Driving dependent functions:
The respective driving situation, e.g.
cornering, mountain driving or brak-
ing, is detected by sensors and taken
into account for shifting, e.g. to
achieve optimum gear selection dur-
ing deceleration and subsequent
acceleration
>Slip recognition at the rear axle for
increasing driving stability, e.g. dur-
ing downshifting on slippery road
surfaces>Operating safety through protection
against misshifting.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in
the first driving program of the auto-
mated shifting mode.
Selector lever positionsR: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
Forward position with one-touch mode:
>S: sequential mode
>D: automated mode
>+: upshifting in sequential mode
>–: downshifting in sequential mode.
The SMG Drivelogic is ready for opera-
tion from ignition key position two or
higher.
For your safety, it is only possible to
engage a driving position with the vehi-
cle stopped approx. two seconds after
engaging position N with the footbrake
depressed – shift-lock function.

73
DrivelogicDrivelogic makes various driving pro-
grams available to you.
Press the Drivelogic repeatedly until the
desired driving program is shown in the
SMG display of the instrument cluster,
refer to page 71.
In the automated mode you can select
from five driving programs ranging from
convenience mode/winter operation to
sporty and highly dynamic.
In the first automated driving program,
starting off takes place in second gear,
which is advisable under winter road
conditions with ice and snow.
In the sequential mode you can choose
from six driving programs ranging from
balanced, dynamic driving – 1 – to
sporty, puristic driving – 6. The sporty,
puristic driving program can only be
activated when Dynamic Stability Con-
trol DSC is switched off, refer to
page 86.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the DSC acti-
vated on whenever possible.<
Following each change between the
sequential and the automated mode,
the last driving program selected in the
respective mode is active. Exception: if
program 6 had been the last selected
sequential driving program, program 5
is activated instead.
Your vehicle is set so that when
the engine is started, the last
selected driving program saved in your
key is activated for each shifting
mode.<
Gradient assistanceThe gradient assistance enables start-
ing off on grades with virtually no roll-
back. It can be activated in the sequen-
tial and automated mode with the vehi-
cle stopped and can be used for both
forward and reverse driving.
The vehicle may roll slightly before
it is held by the gradient assis-
tance after releasing the footbrake.
Two seconds after the footbrake is
released, the vehicle begins to roll, as it
is no longer held with the gradient
assistance.<
1. Depress footbrake with vehicle
stopped
2. Activate the gradient assistance by
pulling the left paddle for at least
0.5 seconds. An increase in the
engine speed indicates that the gra-
dient assistance is activated
Briefly pulling the left paddle again
deactivates the gradient assis-
tance again.<
3. Release the footbrake and start off
within two seconds.
The gradient assistance must be reacti-
vated before each use.
Sequential M gearbox with Drivelogic*
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78
The speed stored in memory is deleted.To store and maintain speed or to
acceleratePress button + briefly:
The system maintains and stores the
current vehicle speed. Every time you
tap the button, the speed increases by
approx. 0.6 mph / 1 km/h.
Press and hold button +:
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When
you release the button, the system
maintains and stores the current speed.
If on a downhill gradient the
engine braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the controlled speed can be
exceeded. Speed can drop on uphill
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.<
To deceleratePress button – briefly:
If you are already driving with activated
cruise control, the speed is decreased
by approx. 0.6 mph / 1 km/h every time
you tap the button.
Press and hold button –:
With the cruise control active, the sys-
tem automatically reduces the throttle
opening to slow the vehicle. When you
release the button, the system main-
tains and stores the current speed.To interrupt the cruise controlWhen the system is activated, press the
button. The indicator lamp stays on.
You can use the cruise control again
whenever you want by calling up the
speed that was stored last.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted
automatically:
>When the brakes are applied
>When pressing down the clutch pedal
>If you exceed or fall below the pro-
grammed speed for an extended
period – by depressing the accelera-
tor, for example
>Sequential M gearbox with Drivel-
ogic, refer to page 70: when shifting
in the sequential mode.To recall the stored settingPress the button:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored.
Cruise control

81
Service interval displayRemaining distance to next
serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or higher or
after the engine is started.
The next service due appears with the
message OIL SERVICE or
INSPECTION, together with the dis-
tance remaining in miles – in kilometers
in Canada – before the next scheduled
service.
The computer bases its calculations of
the remaining distance on the preced-
ing driving style.
A flashing message and a '–' in front of
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the
distance shown on the display. Please
contact your BMW center for an
appointment.
Check ControlDisplayWhen the ignition key is in position 2,
the following information and/or condi-
tions are indicated using symbols until
the conditions have been corrected.
1Inspect the low-beam and high-beam
headlamps, as well as the parking
lamps
2Door open
3Luggage compartment lid open
4Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after
having turned the ignition key to posi-
tion 0, you will hear an acoustic signal
for a few seconds to remind you that
the lamps have not been switched off.
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86
Dynamic Stability Control DSCThe conceptDSC supports vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
DSC optimizes driving stability and
traction during acceleration and when
you are starting from a standstill. In
addition, it also recognizes unstable
vehicle conditions, such as understeer-
ing and oversteering. By reducing
engine power and applying brakes at
the wheels, DSC helps to keep the
vehicle on a steady course within phys-
ically feasible limits.
The system starts up automatically
each time you start the engine.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. The
driver remains responsible for the con-
sequences of any inadequate driving
style. Therefore, do not take any risks
because of the additional safety pro-
vided. Do not make any modifications
to the DSC system. Allow only autho-
rized technicians to perform service
procedures on the DSC.<
Indicator lamp for DSC
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to page 20.
>The indicator lamp flashes: DSC is
active and is controlling the drive
torque based on driving conditions
>The indicator lamp does not go out
after the engine is started or lights up
continuously while you are driving:
DSC has been deactivated via the
button or is defective.
Please consult your BMW center for
repairs.
You can continue to drive the vehicle
normally without DSC. In the event of a
malfunction, contact a BMW center or a
workshop that works according to
BMW requirements with appropriately
trained personnel.
To deactivate DSCPress the DSC button; the DSC indica-
tor lamp lights up continuously. DSC is
switched off.
When better traction is required, it is
beneficial to deactivate the system in
the following situations:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the system
switched on whenever possible.

89
M Engine dynamics controlThe system – Sport mode – will cause
the engine to respond more spontane-
ously to any motion of the accelerator
pedal.Activating/deactivating Sport
modeActivating: with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2, press the SPORT button. The
indicator lamp will come on.
When the system is activated, the
vehicle may gain speed without
any additional pressure on the acceler-
ator pedal.<
Deactivating: press the SPORT button
again; the indicator lamp will go out.
The Sport mode is deactivated every
time the engine is started.
Brake force displayBrake force display indicates to the
road users behind you how hard you
are braking.
>Normal braking: the brake lamps
among the rear lamps and the center
brake lamp light up
>Hard braking or braking with ABS: in
addition, the illuminated rear lamp
surface is extended, refer to the pic-
ture.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

110Special operating instructions
Break-in proceduresTo ensure that your vehicle continues to
provide maximum economy throughout
an extended service life, we request
that you devote careful attention to the
following instructions.
Because of its engineering design,
the BMW M3 Convertible is an
especially high-quality vehicle. It is in
your best interest to follow the break-in
tips very closely. Doing this, you will
create the basis for a long, optimum
service life.
speeds, but do not exceed an engine
speed of 5,500 rpm or a road speed of
105 mph / 170 km/h.
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
Do not depress the accelerator pedal to
the full-throttle position.
Vehicles with SMG Drivelogic, refer to
page 73: do not use Drivelogic pro-
grams 5 or 6 or launch control during
the break-in period.
>Following the break-in inspection at
1,250 miles/2,000 km, you can grad-
ually increase engine or road speeds.
TransmissionThe transmission will begin to function
optimally after approx.
300 miles/500 km. Shift gears cau-
tiously during this period and do not
exceed an engine speed of 5,500 rpm.
Vehicles with SMG Drivelogic, refer to
page 73: do not use Drivelogic pro-
grams 5 or 6 or launch control during
the break-in period.TiresOwing to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
an initial break-in period has elapsed.
We thus ask you to drive with extra care
during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.Brake systemApprox. 300 miles/500 km must elapse
before the brake pads and rotors
achieve the optimal pad-surface and
wear patterns required for trouble-free
operation and an extended service life
later on.To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill, e.g. at a
traffic signal, provided that traffic condi-
tions permit to do so.
To avoid corrosion repeate this proce-
dure from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on
when the parking brake is set.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the
vehicle with the engine off – when tow-
ing, for example – substantially higher
levels of pedal force will be required to
brake the vehicle.<
ClutchThe clutch will also begin to function
optimally after about 300 miles/500 km.
Drive cautiously during this break-in
period and do not press the clutch or
shift at high engine speeds.After replacing partsFollow the same break-in procedures if
any of the components mentioned
above have to be replaced in the future.